Mechanical time fuse having a centrifugal drive



Nov. 2, 1937. H. JUNGHANS 2,097,836

MECHANICAL TIME FUSE HAVING A CENTRIFUGAL DRIVE Filed NOV. 11, 1956 Patented Nova 2, 1937 MECHANICAL TIME FUSE HAVING A CEN- TRIFUGAL DRIVE Helmut Junghans, Schramberg- Sulgen, Germany Application November 11, 1936, Serial No. 110,355

In Germany July 27, 1935 Claims. (Cl. 102-36) 5 kind in question having a comparatively long description. 5

period of operation, whereby the said operating A possible form of embodiment of the invenmeans, whilst supplying a sufficient force, does tion is illustrated by way of example in the acnot appreciably exceed in its dimensions, and companying drawing, in which more particularly in its diameter, the dimensions Fig. 1 is a section taken through the central of existing operating devices. axis of a fuse. 10

A further object of the invention is to provide Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fuse, the upper an operating means of this nature in extremely cover plate having been removed to reveal the simple form. centrifugal weights.

Mechanical clock-work fuses have already been Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fuse in which the proposed, in which a pair of centrifugal weights upper cover plate and the centrifugal weights 1.; are disposed symmetrically to the central shaft of have been removed to reveal the intermediate the fuse, each of the said-weights acting on the segments. shaft by way of an intermediate wheel. There is In the embodiment illustrated in the drawaccordingly provided on each cover plate of the ing there is shown a construction in which the clockwork mechanism a centrifugal weight t0- object was to double the time of operation of an 20 gether with its appertaining transmission wheel. existing operating device, viz., from 60 to 120 For the purpose of increasing the operative force seconds. A condition is that the dimensions of and for varying the transmission ratio to prothe operating device/and more particularly the duce a slower operation in the case of an operatdiameter, do not appreciably exceed the dimenhis means composed of substantially the same sions of the previous device, and further that the 25 parts, these parts in accordance with the innew operating device is so adapted from the point vention are constructed and arranged as follows: of view of on r t n t h Previous m Each of the centrifugal elements disposed symnism that essential parts of the lattermay be metrically to the axis of the fuse as a pair drives incorp d n h ew i r this D11 a transmission wheel acting on the central shaft p in d n e wi h h inv n i the arof the fuse, which transmission wheelin turn ran m nt is as wsr, is mounted about the axis of rotation of the opsymmetrically t0 the central shaft a of the posite centrifugal member. This arrangement fuse there are provided a pair of centrifugal leads to a considerable saving in space, which weights b, b. The centrifugal weights are con- 85 may be utilized for increasing the mass of the structed in the form of toothed segmentsand centrifugal weights and the extent of their swingage withtheir teeth 0, '0' in pinio ing movement. The pinions d, d are each firmly connected with According to an additional feature of the ina tran mis on r ermediate wheel e, e convention, the intermediate wheels in turn are constructed in the form of toothed segments, both 40 stmeted and arranged in th manner of cenof these wheels 6, e engaging with the pinion 40 trifugal weights, for example in the form of f on the central shaft or spindle a of the fuse. toothed segments, To simplify the construction In accordance with the invention the operating of. the operating mechanism there is employed in segments and the transmission wheels are so each case as bearing bolt for a centrifugal weight mounted that in each case an operating segand an intermediate wheel one of the threaded m nt b, and a t a s w l t th- 45 bolts which hold together the cover plates of the er with pinion d, cl for the counter-segment are clockwork mechanism. For the additional savmounted on a common bearing bolt 9, 9. These ing of space, in accordance with the invention, bearing bolts are constituted by threaded bolts use is made at a suitable point, for example on which at the same time hold together the cover 59 the central wheel, of inner teeth. A device conplates of the mechanism. The operating segstructed on these lines is particularly adapted to ments b, b are mounted on bushes h, h', which replace an operating device having a short period at the same time act as bearing pins forthe of operation, whilst the actual movement bebushes i, 1", to which there are secured in each tween the balance and the wheel on the central case an intermediate segment e, e and a pinion shaft, with a view to simplifying the manufacd, d. To economize in space there is provided on 55 v The invention relates to mechanical time fuses having a centrifugal drive. 7

The primary object of the invention is to provide an operating means for time fuses of the ture of fuses having different periods of operation, may always remain the same.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following the central shaft 11 a central wheelp having inner teeth, which wheel meshes with the pinion l of the movement of the fuse (not shown).

The operating device acts as follows: After the projectile has been fired, and after release of a desired safety means, the driving segments 21, b are rocked with their centres of gravity outwards under the action of the centrifugal force to the edge of the cover plate, and upon this movement they drive by way of their teeth 0, c the pinions d, d of the transmission wheels or intermediate segments e, e', and these in turn drive the pinion f on the central shaft a. Owing to their segmental form and the correspondingly selected position of their centres of gravity in relation to the axis of the mechanism and their own axes of rotation the intermediate segments e, e assist the drive of the centrifugal weights b, b. The central shaft :1 drives through the medium of the central wheel p having the inner teeth the pinion l belonging to the mechanism.

The problem on which the selected embodiment is based, viz., that of doubling the period of operation of an existing operating device is accordingly solved by the fact that the diameter of the pair of transmission wheels e, e has been substantially doubled as compared with the previous diameter, which isrendered possible by the embodiment of the transmission wheels in the form of toothed segments and by the particular method of mounting the same. Further it is possible considerably to increase the diameter of the central wheel by providing it with inner teeth. Since on the other hand the mechanism m between the balance and the central wheel is to remain the same as in the case ofthe mechanism with half the period of operation, and accordingly the period of oscillation also remains the same, the variation in the transmission between drive and mechanism to obtain an operation period of twice the duration calls for twice the operative force. The possibility of fulfilling this requirement is provlded for by the fact that owing to the peculiar common mounting in each case of an operating segment and an intermediate segment on asin gle shaft a considerable space is available for increasing the mass of the operating segment and its extent of movement; further, by the fact of the embodiment of the intermediate wheels e, e as centrifugal segments an additional driving force is obtained.

The possibility of employing the new operating means in place of existing devices leads to considerable advantages and to a simplification in the manufacture and in the maintenance of of stocks, as merely one single embodiment of movement and of the parts included in the releasing and firing means is required.

. What I claim is:

1. In a time fuse, a. centrally disposed fuse shaft, a pair of centrifugal members disposed symmetrically to the said shaft, and transmission members each driven by one of the said centrifugal members, the said transmission members each being mounted about the axis of rotation of the opposite centrifugal member.

2. In a time fuse, a centrally disposed fuse shaft, apair of centrifugal toothed segments disposed symmetrically to the said shaft, and transmission members each driven by one of the said toothed segments, the said transmission members each being mounted about the axis of rotation of the opposite centrifugal member.

3. In a time fuse, a centrally disposed fuse shaft, a pair of centrifugal members disposed symmetricallyto the said shaft, and transmission segments each driven by one of the said centrifugal members and constituting themselves centrifugal members, the said transmission segments each being mounted about the axis of rotation of the opposite centrifugal memher.

4. In a time fuse, a. centrally disposed fuse shaft, a pair of centrifugal members disposed symmetrically to the said shaft, a clockwork mechanism controlled by the said centrifugal members, cover plates to the said clockwork mechanism, threaded bolts holding the said cover plates together, and transmission members each driven by one'of the said centrifugal members, one centrifugal member and one transmission member being disposed in common on one of the said bolts.

5. In a time fuse, a centrally disposed fuse shaft, a wheel having inner teeth mounted on the said shaft, 9. pair of centrifugal members disposed symmetrically to the said shaft, a clockwork mechanism controlled by the said centrifugal members through the medium of the said shaft, and transmission members each driven by one of the said centrifugal members and engaging with the said wheel on the said shaft, the said transmission members each being mounted about the axis' of rotation of the opposite centrifugal member.

HEJMU'I' JUNGHANS. 

